The long overdue (no staking) tennis betting and discussion thread

[Doobs]

Of course we still have Klugman and Stojsavljevic in the girls singles (plus 3 others, one got through qualifying). Klugman should be 2nd seed, I think Xu is too old now.  Bonding also has a chance in the boys Singles.

Women's doubles entries seem thin on the ground. Boulter and Kartal are playing together and won the first match.  Hopefully they can get some wins and it helps both their games and future BJK games.

Cash and Glasspool are out already, which was a bit of a shock.  Am on the right side of the Atlantic for the tennis, but it is harder to watch here (split screens and jumping between games).  Saw some of the mixed doubles last week, but no games this week so far.  I think that shows where we are with doubles.  The mixed doubles got publicity and television time, traditional doubles just isn't getting it here (have been in Alaska and now in Vancouver Island, big recommend).

[Ironside]

Red button on sky for the doubles untill the later stages which makes recording it for mum impossible but they did show the 3rd set ok the Boulter/Kartal  on skymix
Mum loves the wheelchairs so hoping they arent on over night.

[Doobs]

Red button on sky for the doubles untill the later stages which makes recording it for mum impossible but they did show the 3rd set ok the Boulter/Kartal  on skymix
Mum loves the wheelchairs so hoping they arent on over night.

I know how to get it in UK. I am just saying what I can see in the US/Canada.  Think doubles players overestimate their marketability.  I don't know what the answer is, but think there was a clear market for the mixed doubles tournament at the US Open.  The crowd looked fuller than the singles I have seen and there was some local hype.  Prize money was X4 too.  Can't see either thing happening with the normal mixed doubles entrants.

Obvious problems that it messes up the singles tournaments in the week before the US Open and the normal doubles players lose a big payday (though mixed normally has even worse prize funds than same sex doubles).  Other majors copying seems more likely than the US Open reverting to the old format from where I sit. 

[bergeroo]

Why not just have a special extra tournament the week/weekend before the grand slam a the same time as the qualifying. Mixed doubles with a lot of singles players making up teams. Extra prizemoney - maybe a few veterans/retired players in teams. And then just keep the mixed doubles as normal in the second week of the grandslam. Win win.

[Enut]

Nice to see Anisimova beat Swiatek, maybe put those Wimbledon final demons to rest.

[Doobs]

Nice to see Anisimova beat Swiatek, maybe put those Wimbledon final demons to rest.

Agreed on this, and I struggle to warm to Swiatek. Pleased to see Osaka through too, think she has been through a lot whatever people think of her.

British fellas in the semi too.

Both British girls seem to be making hard work of the girls tournament, but both grinding pretty hard. Think Klugman just doesn't seem to hit winners much and still misses the ones she hits straight back.  Just feel she could be so much better if she irons out these two issues.

[Doobs]

Nice to see Anisimova beat Swiatek, maybe put those Wimbledon final demons to rest.

Agreed on this, and I struggle to warm to Swiatek. Pleased to see Osaka through too, think she has been through a lot whatever people think of her.

British fellas in the semi too.

Both British girls seem to be making hard work of the girls tournament, but both grinding pretty hard. Think Klugman just doesn't seem to hit winners much and still misses the ones she hits straight back.  Just feel she could be so much better if she irons out these two issues.

Much better today.  Saw much of Klugman's match, but kept switching to Stojsavljevic.  Both seemed better today.  Oliver Bonding is on next on Louis Armstrong, but have to do Dad stuff for a bit.

Would be great to see both Brit girls in the final.  Really is a big deal we have so much young talent.  Might go out and paint a roundabout in celebration, though not convinced these two are English enough for the likes of tiny Tommy, or that painting roundabouts is a celebration. 

[Doobs]

Draper has announced he isn't playing again this year.  Don't think this is much of a surprise as better to miss 2/3 months now than around the Australian Open.

Think Raducanu has done right to miss the BJK this time, even if I'd like to see her.  She needs to consolidate into a solid position in the top 32 by the year end.  Still think she should try and win a 250, but we are getting late for that this year ( is possible?). Way less likely to bump into Swiatek, Rybakina or Sabalenka, and there aren't many others to fear the form she is in?

On Hannah Klugman, before her semi I noticed Vandromme had won 4 ITFs this year.  I know people knock the bottom rung, but think she just looked more battle hardened. She has the tools to push on.  Hopefully does so when she is allowed to play more games at age 17/18. 

Skupski and Salisbury very much looked to have the final won a couple of times.  Was a sad end.

And how good was Alcaraz.  Always cheering him over Sinner.

[Ironside]

Kartal looked good today British number 2 next week

[Doobs]

Kartal looked good today British number 2 next week

Didn't see today, but she steamrollered Kasatkina.  Was thinking Maya Joint has been playing so well, and she was well beaten too.  Beating Andreeva is a top result.

She definitely seems to have taken a step up in her short absence.  She is definitely playing better than Boulter and isn't far off first two sets Raducanu.  If we include the third set, probably better right now.

She can obviously beat Noskova, and with Swiatek gone and no Sabalenka, this isn't impossible.  Think Pegula and Gauff are clearly a bit inconsistent at times.

[Doobs]

Raducanu has finished for the season.  She was really struggling with the heat/injury in the last 2 tournaments.  I don't know if she stays in the top 32 at the end of the year.  She has no points to lose, but the next couple of tournaments will be soft and I noticed a lot of entries were around her, but plenty of others have stopped for the season, so it isn't impossible.  She isn't winning a tournament this year though.

[Doobs]

Astonishing how far Boulter has fallen.

Qualified in Japan, so an opportunity, and got hammered.

Unless she does well in Hong Kong she is in danger of dropping out of the top 100 because of the points she won last year there.  She is likely to be UK number 4 behind Raducanu, Kartal and Jones in a couple of weeks. At the start of the year I was thinking she'd kick on this year and be solid top 20.  She really has been our most dependable BJK player too, so this isn't good for GB either.

I now think Raducanu is more likely than not to be seeded in Australia.  Assume Boulter lasts in the top 100 just long enough to not have to qualify.

[Doobs]

Need Ironside's tips for the year.

Raducanu and Boulter both finish top 20, but not top 10. 
Raducanu wins a WTA tournament at last.
Sonay Kartal gets to top 50.
Burrage back in top 100.
Draper breaks top 10
Jacob Fearnley gets to top 50
Billy Harris gets close, doesn't get there
Think Jack Pinnington Jones and Paul Jubb can get top 100.
So we finish the year with 5 men and 5 women in top 100 (proper gamble)?  Don't know which over woman, hopefully Dart gets there/stays there.  Armani Banks 150 or so?
Xu finishes top of Xu, Klugman and Stojsavljevic.  Depends if any gets main draw at Wimbledon though?

Well this wasn't great, but some of it was just a year early, so will add some tips for 2026.

Raducanu and Boulter both finish top 20, but not top 10.  Well this failed. Raducanu almost got there, and will be top 20 soon, as her points are weighted to later in the year.  The last half of the year was disastrous for Boulter.  Think she barely got a win,, so will go down further before recovering.  Think she is still a top 30 player by ability, but will struggle to get there from 150 or wherever she bottoms out.  Really needs a good run in the grass court season.

Raducanu wins a WTA tournament at last.  Surely got to be 2026.  She is improving again, and is even entering a 250 before the Aussie Open.

Sonay Kartal gets to top 50.
Burrage back in top 100.
Draper breaks top 10
Jacob Fearnley gets to top 50

Three out of four here.  Kartal picked up an injury, but should get back in the top 50 soon enough.  Still improving.  Draper looked a top 10 player all year, so should be ok to stay there if he shakes off his injury.  Burrage barely played, and can't remember her playing well when she did.  Still young enough to get back in the top 100.  Not sure she will do it in 2026.  Fearnley isn't likely to go much higher than 50?

Billy Harris gets close, doesn't get there
Think Jack Pinnington Jones and Paul Jubb can get top 100.
So we finish the year with 5 men and 5 women in top 100 (proper gamble)?  Don't know which over woman, hopefully Dart gets there/stays there.  Armani Banks 150 or so?

Think Jack Pennington Jones gets top 100 this year and there are a raft of men around 200 or so.  Will be surprised if we don't finish the year without 5 in the top 500.  Pick any from Fery, Crawford, Loffhagen, Monday. Could even see Tarvet and Stewart getting there, and surely Lui Maxted is coming through to at least top 200 by the end of the year?  Given up on Jubb.  Maybe Liam Broady can get back too, inspired by Norrie's return to the top 30?

xu finishes top of Xu, Klugman and Stojsavljevic.  Depends if any gets main draw at Wimbledon though?

Don't think there is much between Xu and Stojsavljevic, but Xu is going to be top again as she is no longer limited in her tournaments, and Mika can't even play more than this year as she isn't a top 5 junior anymore. Think Klugman seems to be spending less time on tennis than those two, so will finish third.  Mika was the highest ranked 16 year old a few days ago, but a birthday has done her

Banks doesn't get top 100, as has regressed a little, but Xu definitely can in 2026.  Think Swan comes back near the top 100.  She picked up 4 ITFs late last year, and seems in a happier place.  Probably true of Dart too towards the end of the year.  Don't know about Fran Jones.  She is brilliant given her problems, but seems awful hard for her to keep fit.  Rajecki probably the biggest underachiever.  Seemed a decent shout last year, Ironside, but went nowhere really.

So think we get 5+ men in the top 100 at end 2026, but maybe 4 for women?  Maybe Raducanu, Kartal, a rejuvenated Boulter and Xu.  Will be massively pleased if Jones is still there, and delighted if Mika gets there with her limited schedule.   Going for her and Maxted as the two to watch.

[Doobs]

Did anyone else get Wimbledon tickets or any others?  Got first day centre court in the advantage ballot and got some decent tickets for the women's semis at Queen's.  Never been to the latter, and might have a spare as my wife has a double booking.